| Let's look at the sentence pattern. |
| This pattern is the structure that all of our examples will follow. |
| [verb stem] (아/어/여) 본 적(이) {있다/없다} |
| [verb stem] (-a/-eo/-yeo) bon jeog(-i) {it-da/eop-da} |
| I have/haven’t done (something) before.) |
| First, take the verb stem and attach 아 (a), 어 (eo), or 여 (yeo), depending on the last vowel in the verb stem. Then, add 본 적 (bon jeog), which literally means 'the experience of having tried' or 'the experience of doing something.' "본" is the past tense form of "보다". Finally, finish with either 있다 (it-da), meaning 'to exist'—indicating you have done something before—or 없다 (eop-da), meaning 'not to exist'—indicating you haven't done something before. |
| This pattern is commonly used when asking about or mentioning experiences you've had or haven't had in the past. |
| Let’s see how a line from the dialogue follows this pattern. |
| 영화관 옆에 있는 카페에 가 본 적 있어? |
| In this sentence: |
| 가 (ga) is the verb stem of 가다 (gada), meaning 'to go.' It's combined with 본 적 (bon jeok) to indicate having the experience of going somewhere. 있어? (isseo?) is the casual question form of 있다 (it-da), meaning 'exists' or 'have.' |
| So, 영화관 옆에 있는 카페에 가 본 적 있어? translates to 'Have you ever been to the café next to the movie theater? |
| Now let's look at some speaking examples. |
| 불고기를 먹어 본 적이 있어요? (Bulgogireul meogeo bon jeoki isseoyo?) |
| Have you ever eaten bulgogi before? |
| Can you see how the pattern applies here? |
| Let's break it down: |
| Here, 먹어 comes from the verb stem 먹다 (to eat). It is combined with 본, which means 'tried' or 'experienced.' Next, 적이 indicates an 'experience' or 'occasion,' and finally, 있어요 means 'have' or 'exists,' marking the sentence as asking about a past experience. |
| Here's another example |
| 한국 친구와 한국어로 이야기해 본 적이 없어요. (Hanguk chinguwa hangugeoro iyagihae bon jeoki eopseoyo.) |
| I have never spoken in Korean with a Korean friend before. |
| 한국 친구와 한국어로 이야기해 본 적이 없어요. (Hanguk chinguwa hangugeoro iyagihae bon jeoki eopseoyo.) |
| I have never spoken in Korean with a Korean friend before. |
| Let's try one more, |
| 비싼 가방을 사 본 적이 있어요? (Bissan gabangeul sa bon jeogi isseoyo?) |
| Have you ever bought an expensive bag? |
| 비싼 가방을 사 본 적이 있어요? (Bissan gabangeul sa bon jeogi isseoyo?) |
| Have you ever bought an expensive bag? |
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